Page 23 of Picking Up the Gauntlet

“Do you have any brothers my age?” asked Heathcliff.

“Heathcliff, that’s not an appropriate thing to ask her,” said Jonathon in a low voice.

“Nay, it’s fine,” Raven answered. “I have two younger brothers, but they are sixteen and eighteen,” she told him. “They don’t live at the castle because they are being fostered by other lords. My twin brother, Rook, lives at the castle though.”

“I’ve met him,” said Heathcliff. “Did you know my friends call me Cliff?” asked the boy, staring at her.

“I do now,” she answered. “Are you an apprentice? Because there is a boy about your age at the castle who was apprentice to the former blacksmith. His name is Gerold, and he’s nine.”

“Really? Mayhap I can meet him someday. Can I, Jonathon?” asked the boy eagerly.

“We’ll talk about that later,” said Jonathon, introducing her to his fourteen-year-old sister, Estrilda, and then his eighteen-year-old sister, Hildeth.

“Hello,” said Raven with a nod, not sure she wasn’t going to swoon. It was very hot in the forge and she found it hard to breathe, let alone meet Jonathon’s entire family at once.

“This is my sister Hildeth’s new husband, Leith,” Jonathon said, introducing her to the man in the main part of the shop. “Leith is the town’s baker, so they live at his place now.”

“Hildeth has been a big help at the bakery,” said Leith. “She can bake things that I’ve never even imagined trying. Because of her, my business has grown just since we’ve married.”

“Thank you, Leith,” said Hildeth, and the two lovingly smiled at each other like no one else was in the room.

“That’s nice,” said Raven, not knowing what else to say. It wasn’t as if hearing about baking bread and pastries interested her in the least.

“Don’t forget about me, Brother.” Another man walked out of the forge area wiping his hands with a cloth. He was bare-chested but wore a leather apron that covered most of the front of him.

“Oh, my.” Raven turned away, feeling embarrassed since the man was without a shirt.

“God’s eyes, Avery, cover up,” spat Jonathon, taking a cloak from a hook and tossing it to him. “You are in the presence of a lady.” Jonathon turned to speak to Raven. “This is my brother Avery. He’ll be living at the castle forge with me.”

“What?” Avery looked up as he hurriedly donned the cloak. “I will?” he asked.

“Aye,” said Jonathon. “Did I forget to mention that? While I’m at the castle, I am the temporary smith, as well as Lady Raven’s personal guard.”

“Can I be her personal guard too?” asked Avery, with a chuckle and a big smile.

“I don’t need a personal guard, and although your brother thinks he’s mine, he’s really not,” said Raven with a stiff upper lip. “Now, I think we should be getting back to the castle.”

“We just got here, my lady,” said Jonathon. “I thought you wanted to compare the size of my shop to the one at the castle.”

“Did she, now,” mumbled Avery. “Well, I hope you’re not disappointed, at the size of Jonathon’s... shop.”

“Avery, get back to work,” said Jonathon’s father. “We have orders to fill.”

“My lady, I notice mud on your shoe,” said Jonathon’s mother. “Please, let me and my daughters clean it for you. I have a nice chair for you to use, right over here while we do it.”

“Well, I don’t know.” Raven looked over to Jonathon.

“It’ll take me a little while to get some things together that I need at the castle,” Jonathon told her.

“I’m sure you must be parched from your ride here,” said his mother. “Estrilda, quickly, get Lady Raven some wine.”

“I was just dropping off some fig hand pies I made this morning,” Hildeth told her. “Would you like to try one?” Hildeth hurried over with a basket over her arm.

“Oh, I don’t know,” said Raven, suddenly getting a whiff of the delectable scent of the fruit pies. Since she missed the meal this morning, she was feeling famished. “Well, mayhap just a taste.”

Jonathon watched his family escort Lady Raven to the other side of the shop and do their best to make her comfortable. He then turned around and spoke in a low tone to his brother.

“I managed to secure you a spot at the castle forge, but if you’re going to be saying things to embarrass me and constantly walking around half-undressed, you’re not coming with me.”